Using precision timing to improve particle tracking

Abstract

Silicon tracking detectors provide excellent spatial resolution, and so can provide excellent momentum resolution for energetic charged particles, even in compact detectors. However, at lower momenta, multiple scattering in the silicon degrades the momentum resolution. We present an alternate method to measure momentum and alleviate this degradation, using silicon detectors that also incorporate timing measurements. By using timing information between two silicon layers, it is possible to solve for the the radius of curvature, and hence the particle momentum, independent of multiple scattering within the silicon. We consider three examples: an all-silicon central tracker for an electron-ion collider, a simplified version of the CMS detector, and a forward detector for an electron-ion collider. For a 75 cm diameter tracker in a 1.5 T magnetic field, timing can improve the momentum determination for particles with momentum below 500 MeV/c. In the 3.8 T CMS magnetic field and 1.2 m radius tracker, timing can improve tracking up to momenta of 1.3 GeV/c. The resolution is best at mid-rapidity. We also discuss a simpler system, consisting of a single timing detector outside an all-silicon tracker.